In the early hours of Tuesday, Russian forces targeted Kyiv and Odesa, resulting in significant damage to St. Sophia Cathedral and the Odesa Film Studio.

This was reported by Minister of Culture Mykola Tochitsky.

Strike on Kyiv and Odesa: Damage to St. Sophia and Destruction of ‘Dovzhenko’ Set

Tochitsky emphasized that the nighttime assault was aimed at the "very heart of our identity".

He noted that St. Sophia Cathedral is a sanctuary that has withstood centuries and symbolizes the birth of Ukrainian statehood.

The minister clarified that the shockwave destroyed the cornice on the main apse of this 11th-century temple, calling it the "soul of all Ukraine".

Additionally, according to the minister, the Odesa Film Studio was also damaged due to the shelling that same day.

"Pavilions, storage rooms, sets, and vehicles were damaged. The sets for the film 'Dovzhenko' – a national project about the most famous Ukrainian director – were completely destroyed," Tochitsky reported.